Haters Driving Arsenal On

Earlier in the week Tim Stillman wrote an article entitled 'The Question Of Them And Us'. In it, he discussed how Arsene Wenger could use a siege mentality to drive his players on and make them more determined.

Tim explained how Geoprge Graham used the same tactic during his time at Arsenal to great success.

Well with that, along with the mental strength the current Arsenal squad is showing, in mind I say this: All the managers and football officials bashing Arsenal for whatever reason, are doing us a massive favour.

In the last few weeks Ryan Giggs, Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini, Alex Ferguson and Ryan Giggs have all slammed Arsenal's policy of recruiting youngsters from abroard and turning them into the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie.

Now, players like the aforementioned have very strong, driven personalities. Hearing people say that they shouldn't be here, or that some of their team mates and friends should not be here will do one thing - drive them on. And that's without Le Prof saying a word.

Mourinho became the latest person to have a swipe at Arsenal. I read the following extract from Jose Mourinho's modestly named book: 'Jose Mourinho, A Born Winner': 'Unlike Arsenal, we sought success and tried to build it through a concept of the game using English players.

'That was to have a positive effect, on the dressing room and on the press, in terms of the image that the club would project.

'We had to get players who fitted the profile of the team but without running the risk of filling the club with foreign players because that could bring us problems in handling the players in the dressing room and the press, which is sensitive to the use of English players and doesn't easily forgive clubs which misrepresent the championship with complete intakes of foreign footballers.

'Of course the animosity of the English against (Roman) Abramovich was due to the idea that was established that the Chelsea owner was going to transform the club into a depot of players who came and went without any criteria other than spending money.'

We all know the man talks bo***cks. But his comments not only got me thinking about what I just mentioned, they also made me chuckle to myself and got me thinking: 'More Arsenal bashers please.'

How ironic would it be if the people trying to disrupt Arsenal were one of the major reason's for us winning a piece of silverware come May?

Comments

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I don't actually think its a case of haters. I can see how Arsenal may think so because of the overseas/English balance of your squad. I think a telling comment was made by Michael Owen. He said that while the introduction of overseas players has undoubtedly helped the quality of the Premiership, there is a concern, that certain English players, particularly late developers are being squeezed out in favour of very young overseas players - not established stars - who have had the opportunity to develop their technical skills earlier. A interesting example is 'Ian Wright' ... he only broke into the game in his early 20s. Would he have ever been given or chance would he have been flung on the scraphead by this weeks latest whizz kid?

If we weren't successfull we wouldn't get a mention so maybe there is some backhanded compliment in all the rubbish that is directed towards us. I read the Mourinho extract and thought that he was in fact saying "I had to play this boring percentage game because the club wanted English players and that was the only way they could play" If that is true, and it is only if, then thank heaven Wenger has higher principles. Certainly the Arsenal fans are grateful for it and in a way the fact that it gets up the noses of others makes it all the more satisfying.

The english player debate is starting to get stale. it one thing or the other when it come to arsenal. always looking for the negative when it comes to us! No one as why english players dont invade other clubs! no one stopping them! in my opnion it a combo of three things. Too expensive, too over rated and not adventurous enough! cesc came when chances where lacking in barca. whane the last time u heard of a english teen in euro? if they good enough scouts will come.
This is a case of not being able to compete and try to get the laws to change in your favour.

The Ian Wright point is a reasonable one ES (et c.,). I think he would still make it though whether his qualities would have been completely at home in the current Weger side I am not so sure. But someone like Marlon King has trod a similar path having played non league at Dulwich Hamlet before joining Gillingham at 20. He has only played one season in the Premiership but Watford are sitting pretty at the moment. Were he available would almost certainly be taken up by a mid table Premiership side.

We bought Henry when he was 22, plying his trade as a 'winger who could not make a decent cross' as many Juventus fans had touted him. If a player has class he will make it no matter what. Hence the late developer issue is out of question.

Please can anyone tell me when the last time england did well in Youth competion euro or world wise? the kids who did well in u-17 world cup recently are getting contracts in different euro leagues. cant be only arsenal fault as at that age there still in the youth teams. england just need to adapt, old rules dont apply. i rather have our form of total footie with foreigners than an uncopmpetetive substitute!

The England U21 team has been doing a pretty decent job over a very consistent period of time, so that shows there is players coming through. Infact if you watch the commitment you get from the U21's it puts the seniors to shame & thats why England are rubbish. As soon as a player becomes half decent they get paid fortunes & think they have made it. As for Arsenal, no other premier league team has more England U17's or U16's than Arsenal. I think Man Utd have an equal amount but not totally sure on that, which just shows that behind the scenes Wenger is actually doing a lot of work to have future English players!!